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South Carolina Completes
2009 Signing Class
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina women's soccer program
has announced that seven student-athletes will join the Gamecocks in
the 2009 season. The list includes the Georgia high school Player of
the Year, a player with national level experience in England, two
regional Olympic Development Program members, a Scholar
All-American, two NSCAA All-Region selections and an adidas ESP Camp
all-star selection.
"Overall, this 2009 incoming class will add some important depth
to the program," head coach
Shelley Smith said. "Our team is coming off a great season and
is in a good position to take the program to another level. With a
tremendous returning group, the loss of only one senior and further
developing a large freshmen class through their first spring season,
we are all looking forward to coming back stronger than ever. The
incoming class has the benefit of learning from and playing with
such a strong returning group of players. They will be looking to
earn their time on the playing field while pushing the players ahead
of them. We should have some tremendous competitiveness among our
roster that will make us stronger from top to bottom. With the
addition of two goalkeepers, we especially address the depth of that
position among others. They are a wonderful group of
student-athletes. We are excited to see what the freshmen bring to
the field in August and to have them represent our Gamecock Women's
Soccer program on and off the field."
South Carolina went 11-7-4 last season, earning the program's
third consecutive SEC Tournament bid and second consecutive NCAA
Tournament bid. Fourteen of Carolina's 28 players were freshmen in
2008, and the Gamecocks lose only one senior in midfielder
Danila Monteiro. The team returns 14 freshmen, five sophomores
and six juniors including All-SEC and All-Region selections
Kayla Grimsley (Fr./Mid) and
Blakely Mattern (Jr./Def).
GK | 5-7 | Cary, Ill. | Cary-Grove
 PRE-COLLEGE:
2008 Fox Valley All-Sectional team ... Three-time Fox Valley
All-Conference team ... 2008 Illinois HSSCA All-Sectional team
... Two-time Northwest Hearld All-Area team ... Member of
Illinois ODP team (2005) ... Four year starter at goalkeeper ...
2008 Pioneer Press Great Northwest team ... Played for Eclipse
Select Soccer Club ... Club team twice ranked No. 1 in the
nation by Soccer America (2007-08) ... State Cup finalist (2005)
... WAGS Champion (2007).
PERSONAL: Full name is Alexandra Joan
Holland ... Majoring in mathematics ... Chose USC over College
of Charleston, Arkansas State and Francis Marion ... Born April
21, 1991 ... Has one sister, Erin ... Parents are John and Renee
Holland.
Why USC?: I chose USC because of many
different reasons. I love the campus, coaches and team. I feel
USC is a great fit for me. Also, I am from Chicago and I wanted
to go to school in the south for warmer weather.
Shelley Smith Quoted: A very skilled and aggressive
goalkeeper with excellent athleticism. Alex has competed at this
country's top level of club soccer, already bringing strong
experience to the GK position as a freshman. She has good shot
stopping ability and is quick off her line. She has the tools
and desire to become a top goalkeeper in the conference working
alongside Coach
Mat Cosgriff.
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GK | 5-6 | Yorba Linda, Calif. | Mater Dei
 PRE-COLLEGE:
Participated in Adidas ESP Camp (June 2007) ... Named to Adidas
ESP camp All-Star team ... 2008 Region IV ODP Invitational Camp
participant ... Member of California ODP team ... Member of ODP
Region IV team ... National Pool Player (2006) ... Two-time All
Los Angeles Southern Section (All-CIF) selection (2007-08) ...
Named All-League in 2007 ... Played for Slammers FC club team in
Newport Beach, Calif. ... Captain of nationally ranked high
school team and club team that was ranked No. 3 in the nation
... Region IV Far West Regional Champions ... Three-time Cal
South State Champion (2006-08) ... Club team won six consecutive
Surf Cups ... Nike Cup and Youth National Gothia Cup champion
with Slammers FC ... Also played varsity basketball at Mater
Dei.
PERSONAL: Full name is Darien Alyxandra
Vercillo ... Majoring in sports management ... Chose USC over
Tennessee, Southern California and Dartmouth ... Born June 8,
1991 ... Has two brothers ... Parents are Tony and Kim Vercillo.
Why USC?: It's a home away from home. The
Southeast mentality is a different but good change of pace. It
is the right fit for my personality, and I couldn't imagine
anywhere better.
Shelley Smith Quoted: Darien is another player who
will add to the depth of the goalkeeping position. Competing for
one of the top clubs in the country and like Alex, Darien will
bring good experience in as a first year player. Darien is
aggressive in the air, vocal and confident which are all crucial
attributes for goalkeepers to be successful at this level. Both
she and Holland will compete for time in their first year behind
returning starter
Mollie Patton and sophomore
Roya Mojarab.
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F | 5-5 | Greenville, S.C. | JL Mann
 PRE-COLLEGE:
Two-time NSCAA/adidas All-Region team (2007-08) ... Two-time
All-State selection (2006, 2008) ... 2008 NSCAA Scholar
All-American ... Two-time Peach Blossom II-AAA All-State
selection (2006, 2008) ... Three-time Peach Blossom All-Region
selection (2006-08) ... Four-year member of South Carolina ODP
team (2005-08) ... Three-time JL Mann Outstanding Offensive
Player (2006-08) ... Played for six-time state champion CESA
club team ... Region III Champion (2006) ... Member of National
Honor Society ... Ranked 7th in high school class.
PERSONAL: Full name is Virginia Rae Wilson
... Majoring in business ... Chose USC over Furman ... Born
February 17, 1991 ... Has an older brother, Luke ... Parents are
Jimmy and Kathy Wilson.
Why USC?: I have always wanted to go to a
SEC school. I loved the girls on the team and the campus. When I
came on my visit I knew that South Carolina was where I wanted
to go.
Shelley Smith Quoted: One of the top three players
to come out of the state of South Carolina in 2009, we are
excited to keep South Carolina's High School All- American
player at home and competing for the Gamecocks. Rae strikes the
ball very well. Her shooting ability combined with her good pace
and determination to take on opponents should make her an
offensive threat as she develops and competes for time up top.
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D | 5-6 | Greensboro, N.C. | North Carolina School of Science &
Math
 PRE-COLLEGE:
Two-time All-State selection (2007-08) ... Three-time
All-Conference and All-Region (2006-08) ... Two-time participant
at ODP Region Camp ... Played for GYSA Greensboro Twisters club
team ... Spent five years as captain of club team that won six
state championships (2001-05; 2007-08) ... State semifinalist in
2006 ... Two-time Region III runner-up (2006-07) ... Scholar
athlete that was accepted to NC School of Science and Match
after beginning career at Ragsdale High School.
PERSONAL: Full name is Brittany London
DeWitt ... Majoring in nursing ... Chose USC over Western
Carolina, Florida State, UNC Greensboro and Charlotte ... Born
January 22, 1991 ... Has two brothers and one sister ... Sister,
Brooke, played soccer at Greensboro College ... Mother is
Candace DeWitt.
Why USC?: I really loved the campus
atmosphere. It is beautiful here, and I knew it was for me when
I came to visit. I also really loved the team chemistry and
wanted to be a part of that.
Shelley Smith Quoted: Brittany is an excellent
student who has earned prestigious admission into the honors
college here at South Carolina. Like her success off the field,
Brittany shows that same kind of the commitment and desire to be
her best on the soccer field. She is very coachable and composed
in her play. She will bring depth to the defensive back four in
her first year with an ability to play both outside and in the
center of the back.
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F/MF | 5-10 | Duluth, Ga. | Greater Atlanta Christian School
 PRE-COLLEGE:
Named to Gwinnett Goal Club's All-County team of the year
(2007-08) ... Four year member of Georgia ODP team (2004-08) ...
Four-year ODP Region Camp participant (2004-08) ... Gwinnett
Goal Club Offensive Player of the Year (2008) ... State finalist
for Wendy's High School Heisman ... Invited to England to train
and play with West Ham United Premiership Ladies Team ... Played
for NASA (2004-08) and Norcross Fury (2008-09) club teams ...
Region III Premier League Top 5 point leader in 2006, finishing
with a No. 2 ranking ... 2008 State Cup Champion ... 2007 Disney
Showcase Champion ... Two-time Regionals semifinalist (2007-08)
... Region III Premier League finalist (2007).
PERSONAL: Full name is Samantha Leanne
Abrahart ... Majoring in elementary education ... Chose USC over
Samford, Princeton, Florida State, Miami and Georgia ... Born
November 19, 1990 ... Has two brothers and one sister ...
Parents are James and Jacqui Abrahart.
Why USC?: I loved everything about the
school - the campus, the team, the coaches, and most of all, the
atmosphere. Ultimately, it was the perfect fit for me. I am so
excited about getting to play at the next level.
Shelley Smith Quoted: Sam has some uniqueness to
her physically and tactically that stood out in the recruiting
process and in her evaluations. An obvious difference from many
on our current roster is her size. This coupled with her skill
level, along with her vision and awareness on the field should
make her a player to watch among our central midfield positions.
Sam benefits from having experience playing at the national
level in England. With her work ethic alongside her knowledge
and love for the game, we are looking forward to seeing Sam grow
as a player in our program.
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D/F | 5-6 | Gainesville, Ga. | Chestatee
 PRE-COLLEGE:
2008 NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-Region ... Georgia high school
Player of the Year (2008) ... Three-time First Team All-Area
selection (2006-08) ... Two-time team MVP (2007-08) ... Set
school record for most goals scored in one season ... Finished
second in Region 7AAA for goals scored ... Four year starter and
two-time Best Offense Award winner ... ... Super Y National ODP
camp (2004-06) ... Played for Atlanta Fire United club team
(2002-09) ... Super Y North American Finals (2006) ...
Semifinalist at Disney Qualifier (2008) and finalist at Disney
Showcase (2009) ... Club team was state cup finalist in 2006 ...
Three-time Super Y South Atlantic Champions (2004-06) ... Played
in Region 3 Premier League (2005-08) ... Played in State Cup
Final Four for eight consecutive years (2002-09).
PERSONAL: Full name is Megan Elizabeth Fligg
... Majoring in early childhood education ... Chose USC over
Kentucky, Clemson, Francis Marion and High Point ... Born
October 2, 1990 ... Has one brother, Ryan ... Father (Matt Fligg)
worked as an undergraduate assistant coach at USC while his
father, Jack Fligg, served as an assistant coach from 1975-82,
serving as offensive coordinator during George Rogers' Heisman
season ... Uncle (Steven Carl Raible) played football at Georgia
Tech and six years for the expansion team Seattle Seahawks
(1976-81) ... Mother (Mary) was a gymnast at Western Kentucky
... Parents are Matt and Mary Fligg.
Why USC?: When I first visited South
Carolina, I just got this awesome feeling that this is where I
belong. The coaches and players are very welcoming, and the
whole USC atmosphere is definitely what I want to be a part of.
Shelley Smith Quoted: A solid defender, Megan can
play centrally or on the outside. We are looking for her to
compete and add depth among the back four. Her composure and
passing ability is excellent. As areas of her game develop, she
has great potential to become a dominating defender among the
SEC.
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MF | 5-6 | Duluth, Ga. | Peachtree Ridge
 PRE-COLLEGE:
Four-time All-Region selection (2006-09) ... Two-time All-County
(2007, 2009) ... Two-time Georgia "Super Six" selection (2007,
2009) ... 2009 Gwinnett County "Super Six" featured player ...
Georgia high school 5A soccer points leader in 2007 ... Two-time
First Team All-Star (2006, 2008) ... Leading goal scorer for
Peachtree Ridge High School ... Four-time high school scholar
athlete (2006-09) ... Seven-year member of Georgia ODP team
(2001-07) ... Region III Camp (2004-07) ... Two-time participant
at Super Y ODP National Camp (2005-06) ... Played for Atlanta
Fire club team ... Club team captain since U-12 ... Club team
was state cup finalist in 2006 ... Three-time Super Y South
Atlantic Champions (2004-06) ... Played in State Cup Final Four
for eight consecutive years (2002-09).
PERSONAL: Full name is Christine Marie Watts
... Undecided major ... Chose USC over Georgia, Virginia,
Tennessee, Clemson and Ole Miss ... Born September 6, 1990 ...
Has three sisters and one brother ... Father played football at
Tennessee from 1977-79 ... Mother was a gymnast at Georgia ...
sister (Amanda) played soccer at Tennessee and Carson-Newman ...
Parents are John and Barbara Watts.
Why USC?: USC is only 3 hours away from
home. I also wanted to go to a D1 school that had a big football
team. The soccer coaching staff is amazing, and I really like
the soccer girls. As soon as I stepped foot on USC's campus, I
knew I was supposed to spend the next four years of my life
there. The campus is gorgeous and very welcoming.
Shelley Smith Quoted: Christine is one of the best
players to come out of the Atlanta area in 2009. She has
tremendous athleticism and versatility to play several places on
the field. This combination should allow her to successfully
compete for our program in her first year. Christine has so much
potential, and we are excited to work with her and see her grow
into a great college player!
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